Friday, December 31, 2010

All the radio experts have made their predictions for 2011. Being experts, they know they're right. Since no one is right all the time and your guess is as good as mine, I'll give you mine. MediaPost says S&P Equity Research forecasts growth of 10% in ad revenue. Wrong - I'll take the under. Ten percent sounds a little high to me. S&P also predicts that the major purveyors of social media, namely Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin are "in no rush to become publicly traded entities" because they have plenty of cash. Wrong - one of the three will go public. A new Pew study shows that among people who pay for web content, the typical user spends about $10 a month for content. The high-end users pay about $47 month. While no prediction was made by Pew as to how high consumers will go to get their web (apps included) fix, my prediction is that the internet is today's cable TV. Consumers will pay up to $50 a month to get what they now can't live without...There are all kinds of guesses as to what's ahead for radio regarding the FCC. Commlawcenter predicts that "The FCC has pretty much ceased processing indecency complaints, while it awaits guidance from the courts as to whether it can legally enforce the prohibition on broadcast indecency, and if so, how it will be allowed to do that." Finally, a prediction I can agree with. I don't think this FCC wants any part of indecency. They will let the courts rule on what's indecent. Many are predicting that both sides in the dispute over performance royalties will continue to negotiate and reach an agreement. I don't. My prediction is that the fight will go to Congress. With a new radio-friendly Congress in session, this doesn't bode well for the music industry...While Sirius XM has in-car radio locked up, Pandora appears to be driving additional interest in online in-car radio, a recent Vision Critical survey found that 9% of U.S. drivers "streamed audio programs or podcasts on their smartphones through their car stereo system." Toyota will integrate Clear Channel's iheartradio mobile app into select models starting next year. Ford also announced that they would integrate Pandora into 2011 cars with its sync system. My prediction is that in-car listening of streamed audio programs or podcast via smartphones will grow from 9% to 11% or higher. There you have it - my radio predictions for 2011. Take it for what it's worth. My guess is as good as yours and you can bet on that...

10 Timeline Memories:1.0404] Curtains: The last gladiator competition is held in Rome and taped for later use as a NBC-TV special (1/1)...2.1863] Mine eyes have seen the glory: Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that slaves in rebel states are free (1/1)…3.1892] Debuted on this date: The Ellis Island Immigrant Station opens in New York Harbor (1/1)…4.1898] I’ll take Manhattan: Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island are consolidated into New York City (1/1)…5.1902] Debuted on this date: The first 'Tournament of Roses', later renamed the 'Rose Bowl' collegiate football game is played in Pasadena (CA) (1/1)...1935] Charles Darrow patents the game of Monopoly (12/31)...6.1943] Old Blue Eyes takes Manhattan: Times Square greets Frank Sinatra at the Paramount Theater. His career explodes after this appearance (12/31)….7.1966] Curtains: The final episode of “The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet” is filmed (1/1)...8.1967] Equal but separate: The FCC starts requiring AM/FM combo stations to be at least 50 percent separate in programming (1/1). Lots of great stations will be born, including WRKO (in March, 1967). This audio captures the sad day in 1981 when the format changed...9.1972] ‘Happy Trails’: Future Baseball Hall of Famer, Roberto Clementedies on a mercy mission when the cargo plane he had chartered goes down in the Caribbean. Clemente, 38, was en route to helping victims of a Nicaraguan earthquake (12/31)...1985] Teen Idol Rick Nelsondies in a plane crash on his way to a New Year’s Eve concert in Dallas (12/31). Rick was one of the nicest people I had the pleasure of knowing…10.1997] Another Kennedy tragedy: Michael Kennedy, 39-year old son of the late Robert Kennedy is killed in a skiing accident on Aspen Mountain (12/31)...Music Memories:

Thursday, December 30, 2010

The problem for radio is this - "There are only so many hours a day that consumers can spend watching TV, reading newspapers, surfing the internet. But as marketers may suspect, the time devoted to media is undergoing some not-so-subtle changes." You'll notice that eMarketer senior analyst Lisa E. Phillips, who made that quote didn't even include radio in her media choices. Consider this - in eMarketer's Annual Report of Media Usage, television and video (not including online video) is still in the driver's seat in Share of Time Spent per Day with Major Media by U.S. Adults, 2008-2010 with 40% in 2010 (flat from previous shares). The internet follows with 23.5% (a gain of 2% from 2008). Next comes radio at 14.5% (a loss of 1.5% from 2008). Mobile has gained 2.5% from 2008 to 2010 with a 7.5% share. Newspapers and magazines trail the media field with negative numbers. It should be noted that time spent listening to radio does not include streaming stations from the internet. That listening goes to the internet...Some of the other highlights of the eMarketer Study include Growth of Average Time Spent per day with Major Media by U.S. Adults, 2009 & 2010 which shows radio declining from -3.9% to -2.0%. Mobile topped this chart gaining almost 7% from 2009 (21.9%) to 2010 (28.2%). Every other media form declined. Time spent with mobile devices is rising faster than all other media. Phillips backs that up: "Mobile devices will claim more and more media time per day, while TV, print and radio will slowly lose ground to digital media. Those trends have been most apparent with print media in recent years, but are now beginning to show up in TV and radio usage as well." ...

While radio won't go the way of the dinosaur, this report is further evidence that mobile (along with email and social networking) and anything else that might come along, must become part of radio's menu. It can't compete with those sources but it can at least make listeners feel that radio isn't living in the dark ages...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1940] Freeway of love: California opens its first freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway…2.1948] Kiss me I’m Kate: The Cole Porter musical, “Kiss Me Kate” opens at the New Century Theatre on Broadway and becomes the first show to win the Best Musical Tony Award...3.1953] Color TV arrives: The first color (RCA) TV sets go on sale for $1,175. How many would you like???4.1954] Beat the clock: The 24-second clock is used for the first time in the NBA in the Celtics-Rochester game…5.1972] Bombing halt: The U.S. halts its heavy bombing of North Vietnam. In 1973 North Vietnam surrenders...6.1978] Canned Buckeye: Ohio State University fires Woody Hayesas its football coach, one day after Hayes punched a Clemson player during a bowl game…7.1993] How do you do: Israel and the Vatican agree to recognize one another…8.1999] Beatle power: Former Beatle George Harrison fights off a knife-wielding intruder who breaks into his mansion west of London and stabs him in the chest… 9.2003] Banned in the U.S.A.: The federal government announces a ban on ephedra, linked to 155 deaths and dozens of heart attacks and strokes…10.2006] Hung out to dry:Saddam Husseinis executed by hanging…

Timeline Countdown: 1 night until New Years Eve, 9 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs and 16 days for the NFL Divisional Playoffs, 17 days until MLK Day & 24 days until the NFL Conference Championships...

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

It remains to be seen if net neutrality will even make a dent in Pandora's run in 2011. As we close out 2010 there are no signs that indicate any slippage for the Pandora phenomenon. While terrestrial radio barely held its own in the latest Ando Media internet rankers, Pandora continued its unstoppable climb in October and November. Ando reports that Pandora had its best month of the year in October, gaining 63,646 sessions. Session starts are defined as "the number of different requests for streams with a duration of at least one minute in total within the reported time period and Average Active Sessions are defined as Total Listening Hours divided by hours in the reported time period, according to Ando Media. Pandora's primetime (Monday-Friday, 6am-8pm) average active sessions grew by nearly 93,000 - or more than all terrestrial broadcasters combined...

CBS Radio continues to dominate terrestrial radio in the Ando with a strong October. They added 12,801 sessions but dropped nearly all those gains in November. CBS still leads Clear Channel, its closest competitor by 50,000 in Average Active Sessions and 20,000 in Session Starts. The rest of the radio group rankings include, in order, Citadel, Entercom, ESPN, Cumulus, Cox and others. Slacker grew its average number of listeners by one-third in November. Since Slacker's data doesn't include listening on mobile phones, it probably did even better than the number reported...The only thing that can stop Pandora's growth in 2011 is net neutrality resulting in higher usage rates by carriers. It should be noted that Sirius XM, Pandora's biggest competitor, is not measured in the Ando. The complete Ando Media monthly Top 20 Rankers for October and November can be viewed here...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1851] “Why-Em-Cee-A“: The first YMCA is organized in Boston. The Village People kvell…2.1890] Massacre Monday: The U.S. Seventh Cavalry massacres over 400 men, women and children at Wounded Knee Creek (SD). This is the last major conflict between Indians and U.S. troops…3.1934] Double dip: The first college basketball doubleheader is played at Madison Square Garden. The Garden was rented for a measly $4 thousand as 16,000 fans watch NYU defeat Notre Dame and Westminster (PA) beat St. John’s. Ned Irishwas the promoter for the game...4.1957] Wedding Bells: Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormeswing down the aisle. Eydie blames it on the bossa nova while Steve says go away little girl…5.1975] Blasting Off: Terrorists explode a bomb in the main terminal of LaGuardia Airport killing 11 and injuring 75 (this is believed to be an act by a Croatian terrorist group that was never captured)…6.1975] “D-I-V-O-R-C-E“: Grace Slick and Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane/Starship, who were together since 1969, are divorced. Grace is an artist today…7.1978] Berserk Buckeye: Ohio State football coach Woody Hayesgoes berserk during the Gator Bowl game punching Clemson’s Charlie Bauman for his interception of a Buckeye pass. Woody will not like what happens to him the following day…8.1980] “Happy Trails“: Singer/songwriter Tim (If I Were A Carpenter) Hardin overdoses on heroin at 40…9.1989] Curtains: Jane Pauley leaves the “Today Show”…10.2007] Record breaking: The New England Patriots are the first team in NFL history to ever finish the regular season with a record of 16-0, the first perfect regular season in the league since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Tom Brady sets the NFL record for Most Touchdown Passes in a season with 50 and Randy Moss sets the NFL record for the Most Touchdown Receptions in a season with 23…Music Memories:

Timeline Countdown: 2 nights until New Years Eve, 10 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs, 17 days until Divisional Playoffs, 18 days until MLK Day & 25 days until NFL Conference Championship Games...

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

It may not be full-blown digital like FM but it might be close enough. NAB Fastroad has released a document that summarizes an AM Digital Data Service study "developed to define a data transmission service that would enable analog AM broadcasters with added capability to provide text services similar to the RBDS (radio broadcast data system) functionality in FM." Translation: Digital AM. The service enhances the analog audio broadcast with a low-rate text service capability. The AM Digital Data Service is structured to be compatible with HD Radio IBOC (In-band, on-channel) broadcasting on AM and "defined to be implemented in a cost-effective manner"...

The Fastroad report "summarizes system design alternatives, possible transport definitions, and impacts to industry products. Several system design alternatives, possible transport definitions, and impacts to industry products". The document doesn't define a full standard for AM Digital Service nor does it define a commercial implementation. Additional system design work is required to implement and evaluate a commercial AM Digital Service say the report writers. What's clear is that Fastroad will not define the quality of this AM digital service for obvious reasons but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and there aren't too many audiophiles listening to AM radio...

IBOC is a hybrid method of transmitting digital radio and analog radio broadcast signals simultaneously, according to audio experts but it just might be good enough to enhance AM radio listening and that would be a blessing...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1944] Rocket takes off: Maurice Richardbecomes the first NHL player to score 8 points in one game…2.1945] Pledging our love: Congress officially recognizes the “Pledge of Allegiance“…3.1956] Curtains: After 5 years on TV, the final “Ding Dong School” hosted by Miss Francis (Horwich) airs on NBC-TV…4.1958] Frozen in sports history: The Baltimore Colts beat the Giants 23-17 at 8:15 into overtime on a frozen Yankee Stadium field to win the NFL Championship in a thriller. Many call this the greatest NFL game of all-time... 5.1973] Soviet slam: Alexander Solzhenitsyn publishes ‘Gulag Archipelago’, an expose of the Soviet prison system…6.1981] Going tubular: Elizabeth Jordan Carrbecomes the first American test-tube baby. Carr is now a quite healthy 29…7.1983] “Happy Trails“: Dennis Wilson, the only real surfer in the Beach Boys, drowns while swimming near his boat at Marina del Rey (CA). Dennis was 39…8.2000] Down for the count: U.S. retail giant Montgomery Ward announces it’s going out of business after 128 years…9.2005] Enron over: Former top Enron Corp. accountant Richard Causey pleads guilty to securities fraud and agrees to help pursue convictions against Enron founder Kenneth Lay and former CEO Jeffrey Skilling…10.2008] Oh for the season: The Detroit Lions complete an 0-16 season, the NFL's worst ever, with a 31-21 loss to Green Bay...

Timeline Countdown: 3 nights until New Years Eve, 11 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs, 18 days until the NFL Divisional Playoffs, 19 days until MLK Jr. Day & 26 days until the NFL Conference Championship Games...

Monday, December 27, 2010

Santa Claus found the blackest coal he could find and dumped it in Clear Channel's Christmas stocking this year. It's not like they weren't expecting it. On Christmas Eve, Clear Channel announced they were seeking a "diverse array of alternatives" for its balance sheet. Clear Channel's goal is to "optimize its overall capital structure." Translation: HELP! Clear Channel is drowning in a sea of about $18.8 billion in debt. That was at the end of the third quarter. The beleaguered radio company has options that you wouldn't wish on your best friend...The first option is to buy some time from the lenders that are trying to get their money back from Clear Channel. Next would come more loans or a debt swap. The company would pay off some of their debt with whatever they can beg, borrow or steal from someone out there that has money to burn. While Clear Channel looks for an angel, things won't be getting any better as Q4 wraps...So how did the largest owner of full-power AM, FM and shortwave radio stations, 12 radio channels on Sirius XM - the largest pure-play radio station owner and operator in the U.S. reach their current dismal state? A good place to start would be by asking Mark Mays, former CC president and CEO who wisely bailed out last summer...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1903] "But oh how they could harmonize": "Sweet Adeline" is sung for the first time by a barbershop quartet in New York City...2.1932] Debuted on this date: Radio City Music Hall opens to the public...3.1947] Hey kids, what time is it? "Howdy Doody" debuts on NBC-TV hosted by Buffalo Bob Smith…4.1967] Knicked: Red Holtzmanreplaces Dick McGuire as New York Knicks coach. Holtzman turns the Knicks around and wins 2 NBA titles before retiring in 1982...5.1968] Curtains: "The Breakfast Club" with Don McNeill signs off for the last time on ABC Radio after a run of 35 years...6.1971] "They say we're young and we don't know": "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" begins airing as a regular series on CBS-TV after starting as a summer replacement on August 1, 1971...7.1985] "Happy Trails": Dian Fossey, 53, American naturalist who studied gorillas in the wild, is found murdered at a research station in Rwanda by an inhumane human...8.2001] Talibanned: U.S. officials announce that Taliban and Al-Qaeda prisoners will be held at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay…9.2007] Death by assassination: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhuttois assassinated in a bomb and shooting attack as she left an election rally in Rawalpindi...10.2008] Having a baby: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's 18-year-old daughter Bristol gives birth to a son - Tripp...

R.I.P. Teena Marie, who considered herself "a black artist with white skin", was found dead at her home in Pasadena from natural causes at 54. Marie, a protegee of the late Rick James, signed with Motown Records in 1979 but had her biggest hit with "Lovergirl" on Epic Records in 1984...

Timeline Countdown: 4 nights until New Year's Eve, 12 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs, 19 days until the NFL Divisional Playoffs, 20 days until MLK Day & 27 days until the NFL Conference Championships...

Friday, December 24, 2010

Eventually there will be some kind of compromise hammered out between the radio and music industries regarding performance royalties, but it won't come in 2010. Radio can have a Merry Christmas royalty-free. Congress has adjourned without a vote on the controversial bill. The new, more radio friendly Congress will convene in January when both sides will start lobbying for their side all over again. The Performance Royalty Act would have imposed performance royalties on broadcast radio for the first time. Radio nerves were on edge when the act passed in the House and Senate Judiciary Committees over the summer...All eyes were on Congress in early December when the PRA was reported out of committee to the full House but that was just a procedural step and the bill did not come up for a vote. The NAB's Dennis Wharton had the NAB on full-alert against a "dark-of-night attempt" to push the bill through but apparently net neutrality was the major issue de jour for the FCC and Congress. PRA was put on the back burner in hopes that a compromise will be hammered out by radio and music...This is the second time in the last three years that the performance royalty issue has stalled at the end of another session of Congress. The money spent by NAB in lobbying has apparently paid off for now. Both sides are barely talking about a compromise but in order for an agreement to be reached, that must be done or we'll be talking about this again next Christmas...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1818] Shhhhhh: “Silent Night”, written by Josef Mohr with music by Franz Gruber of Germany is composed (12/24)...2.1906] The first disc jockey: No, it wasn’t Bruce Morrow. It was Canadian physicist Reginald A. Fessendenwho becomes the 1st person to broadcast a music program over the radio from Brant Rock (MA) (12/24)…3.1947] Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow: A major snowstorm blankets New York City under 25.8" in 16 hours. 80 die in the northeast as a result of the storm (12/26)...4.1948] Massing together: A Midnight Mass is broadcast on TV for the first time from St. Patrick’s Cathedral (12/24)…5.1982] Time Man of the Year: A computer. It's the first time a non-human receives the honors (12/26)...6.1989] “Happy Trails“: Former Yankees manager Billy Martinis killed in a pickup truck crash in Fenton (NY) at 61 (12/25)…1996] 6-year old beauty queen JonBenet Ramseyis found beaten and strangled in the basement of her family’s home in Boulder (CO) (12/26)…7.2002] The kick is up: Katie Hnidabecomes the first woman with or without a missing vowel to play in a Division I football game when she attempts an extra point for New Mexico against UCLA in the Las Vegas Bowl (12/25)...8.2004] Deadly storm: A tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean leaves more than 216,000 dead or missing in Southeastern Asia (12/26)…9.2007] Hold that tiger: In the San Francisco Zoo, a tiger escapes from its enclosure and attacks three visitors, killing one of the men and mauling two others (12/25)…10.2009] Losing a friend: Radio & TV veteran, George Michaeldies from leukemia at 70 (12/24)...

Music Memories:

1896] Named that tune on this date: John Philip Souza puts a title to the new music he composed, calling it "Stars and Stripes Forever" forever (12/25)...

1958] The Big Beat live on this date: Alan Freed's "Christmas Rock 'n Roll Spectacular" at the Loew's State Theater in Manhattan stars Frankie Avalon, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, the Everly Brothers, the Moonglows, Johnnie Ray & Jackie Wilson (12/25). This audio clip is from a 1956 Freed Show at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater...

Commentary:Today (December 24) is the 104th anniversary of the first radio broadcast of a music program. In 1906 Canadian physicist Reginald A. Fessenden became the first disc jockey by broadcasting a program over the radio from Brant Rock (MA). Remembering this historic Christmas eve event is the perfect way to say to one and all - Merry Christmas...

Thursday, December 23, 2010

There's good and bad news for Pandora. First the good news - the internet music service monolith gained 35 million registered users in 2010. Pandora closes the year with 75 million registered users. Phenomenal comes to mind when describing Pandora, but now for the bad news - net neutrality. Radio Survivor reports that most public interest reform groups have pretty much panned the FCC Order. For one thing, net neutrality exempts mobile/wireless services from the unreasonable discrimination portion of the Order. The rules contain lots of loopholes. The prediction from the mobile/wireless world is that there will be years of uncertainty and regulatory confusion, which those carriers will use to their advantage (think higher usage rates). And what net neutrality could possibly do to Pandora should be keeping founder Tim Westergren up at night...Sirius XM house organ Satwaves says net neutrality neuters Pandora with Sirius XM Radio gaining. Their reasoning is that "the idea of free unlimited mobile internet radio is dead. Usage charges will now be imposed by wireless carriers for bandwidth hogging applications such as Pandora and will guarantee Sirius XM's dominance in the audio entertainment space for years to come." Other less biased views include those voiced by Radio Survivor broadband watcher Paul Riismandel who warns that radio streaming will be effected by net neutrality. Riismandel claims that AT&T's new wireless pay-for-more-data plans and Comcast's moves on Netflix video vendor Level 3 for more cash could have dire implications for Internet Protocol (IP) radio...Barring the NAB, there aren't many media people applauding net neutrality. As with any new change comes skepticism. One thing you can count on - net neutrality is neither good nor bad but somewhere in between. Isn't everything???10 Timeline Memories:1.1823] Debuted on this date: The poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” (‘Twas the night before Christmas’) by Clement C. Moore is published in the Troy (NY) Sentinel…1942] Bob Hope does his first Christmas show to entertain U.S. airmen in Alaska. A Christmas tradition is born…2.1834] TAXiiiiiiiii: English architect Joseph Hansom patents his “safety cab” aka the horse-drawn ‘Hansom Cab’, still clippety, cloppin’ in Central Park for the price of a king’s ransom…3.1888] Can you ear me now?: Following a quarrel with Paul Gauguin, Dutch artist Vincent Van Goghcuts off part of his own earlobe. My question is a simple one: Why didn’t he cut off Gauguin’s ear???4.1959] Busted: Chuck Berryis arrested for “transporting a minor across a state line for an immoral purpose”…5.1968] Released on this date: 82 crew members of the U.S. intelligence gathering ship, Pueblo, are released by North Korea after being captured 11 months earlier…6.1969] Wedding Bells: Elton John and Bernie Taupin begin their songwriting marriage…1997] Woody Allen, 62, marries the adopted daughter of wife Mia Farrow, 27-year old Soon-Yi Previn. This is still distasteful 13 years later…7.1972] Immaculate reception: That’s what they called the catch made by the Steelers Franco Harrison a last-second play that won a playoff game for Pittsburgh over Oakland, 13-7...8.1997] Guilty as charged: A jury in Denver convicts Terry Nicholsfor his role in the Oklahoma City bombing. Nichols is serving a lifetime term without parole…2004] Former Connecticut Governor John G. Rowlandpleads guilty to a corruption charge. He later serves a year and a day…9.2003] I beg your pardon: New York Governor George Pataki pardons the late comedianLenny Brucefor his 1964 obscenity conviction…10.2003] Holy Cow: The U.S. government announces the first suspected case of mad cow disease in the U.S. It is later confirmed…

R.I.P. Fred Foy...Known for his gifted voice, Fred Foybecame famous as the voice that intoned "A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty Hi-Yo, Silver!." Foy also was the announcer for "The Green Hornet" and "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" on radio. A staff announcer for ABC in New York, On television, Foy was the voice of "The Dick Cavett Show," Fred Foy died of natural causes yesterday at 89 in Woburn (MA)...

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

There's a reason the NAB has already spent $3.4 million more on lobbying Congress this year than last. Through the first nine months of 2010, according to Radio Word's tabulation of figures reported to Congress, NAB has reported just under $10 million in lobbying outlay. That compares to $7.8 million for the same nine months last year. NAB says its third-quarter lobbying issues include the Performance Rights Act, radio receiver chips in mobile phones, possible legislative rewrites of the Telecom Act and the Local Community Radio Act. The latter has passed in the Senate and has been amended in the House and is well on it's way to becoming a reality. That's the good news for NAB, but there's still fear that this feisty lame duck session won't stop until its passed the Performance Rights Act - still a possibility...

This Congress is interested in communications issues and was heavily involved in the FCC approval of net neutrality, lobbying against the order which originally called for protecting full power stations' third-adjacent channels from interference, a requirement that has since been amended. Radio is now holding its collective breath, hoping that this lame duck session concludes quickly, leaving the Performance Rights Act which would require broadcasters to pay royalties to the recording industry, for the new Congress which will convene in January...

The clock is ticking on this 111th Congress. It can't end soon enough for radio...10 Timeline Memories:1.1864] Merry Christmas: During the Civil War, Union General William T. Sherman sends a message to President Abraham Lincoln from Georgia, saying “I beg to present you as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah”…2.1882] Lighting by Edison: The first string of Christmas tree lights is created by Thomas Edison -Christmas tree lights today - on the internet...3.1937] It will really be great when it’s finished: The Lincoln Tunnel, connecting Manhattan and New Jersey opens to traffic...4.1965] Premiered on this date: “Dr. Zhivago” starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie…5.1968] Wedding Bells: Julie Nixon and David Eisenhowerexchange wedding vows…2000] Madonnais no longer a virgin when she and Brit movie director Guy Richie bed, uh wed. You know the rest of the story…6.1976] Curtains: The last “Let’s Make A Deal” airs. Several attempts to resurrect the show have failed…7.1984] Subway vigilante: New York City resident Bernhard Goetzshoots 4 youths on a Manhattan subway, claiming they were about the rob him. Much to popular belief, the youths armed with screw drivers did not wish the “subway vigilante” Merry Christmas when he went berserk screaming “I’m a Chanukah boy, I’m a Chanukah boy. Take that”…8.1995] “Happy Trails“: Lawrence Berk, founder of Berklee College of Music dies of natural causes at 87 in Boston...2002] Joe Strummer, lead singer of The Clash dies suddenly of a congenital heart defect at 50…9.2001] Hot foot: Richard C. Reid, a passenger of an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami, tries to ignite explosives in his shoes, but is subdued by flight attendants and fellow passengers who point to the flashing “no smoking” sign…10.2005] Strikeout: New York transit workers go on strike but end a three-day strike without a new contract. The union head who forced the strike is fired…

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

As bad as things got at one point, at least radio will not suffer the same fate the newspaper industry is suffering. 2010 will mark the first time marketers put more money into online advertising than newspapers, according to eMarketer. And that's not the only bad news for newspapers - there's more. A new study by The Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) shows that the iPad tops both the web and print for getting news. But there is some good news for the newspaper industry - oh wait - there isn't any good news for the newspaper industry. eMarketer says total newspaper spending, including advertising in print and online editions, will fall to $25.7 billion in 2010, a decline of 6.6%. Spending on print newspapers alone will fall more steeply to $22.8 billion. Online ad spending meanwhile, will rise to 13.9%, pushing U.S. online ad spending up to $25.8 billion by year's end...Ad spending on newspapers is expected to continue its decline. eMarketer estimates that print newspaper spending has already been cut in half since 2006, and online has done relatively little to make up the difference. By contrast, total U.S. online ad spending will continue double-digit growth through 2014 when it will surpass $40 billion...Regarding the iPad, no mobile device has done a better job in replacing newspapers. The RJI study shows that using the iPad to follow breaking news reports and current events is the most popular use for the device. Nearly all of the respondents (99%) indicated that they used their iPad for some period of time during a typical day to consume news. Next, according to popularity: leisure reading of books, newspapers and magazines (81.5%), browsing the web (80.8%) and then email (75.8%). The news apps that come closest to meeting user expectations include: The New York Times, USA Today, The Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal. These findings should be taken as a warning for radio. Although not one-dimensional like newspapers, if radio doesn't do all it can to incorporate social networks, the internet and mobile devices into it's regular fare, radio could become the newspapers of the future... 10 Timeline Memories:1.1620] The Pilgrims are coming, the Pilgrims are coming: The Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower go ashore for the first time at present-day Plymouth…2.1898] Glowing in the dark: Scientists Pierre and Marie Curie discover the radioactive element radium…3.1913] A nine-letter word for a new puzzle: Crossword — published for the first time in the New York World…4.1945] “Happy Trails“: General George S. Pattondies in Germany from injuries suffered in a car accident. Patton was 60…5.1948] Erin Free: Ireland becomes an independent republic…6.1968] To the moon Alice: Apollo 8 is launched on a mission to orbit the moon…7.1970] Elvis the drug czar: Richard M. Nixon has a meeting in the Oval Office about fighting drugs with Elvis Presley, who will die from an overdose of drugs…8.1978] Guilty as charged: Police in Des Plaines (IL) arrest John Wayne Gacy Jr. and begin unearthing the remains of 33 men and boys that Gacy will be convicted of murdering. Gacy is executed by lethal injection in May, 1994…1996] After two years of denials, House Speaker Newt Gingrichadmits violating House ethic rules. He is soon replaced as House Speaker…9.1988] Terrorism in the sky: 270 are killed when a Pan Am Boeing 747 explodes over Lockerbie, Scotland. A terrorist attack is responsible for one of the worst air tragedies ever…10.2006] Marine murderers: Four Marines are charged with murder in the killings of 24 Iraqi civilians and four Marine officers are accused of failures in investigating and reporting the deaths…Music Memories:

Monday, December 20, 2010

When Cumulus Media confirmed that it made a couple of offers for Citadel Broadcasting, they weren't blowing smoke - they were dead serious. Cumulus is willing to raise its $2.1 billion offer in order to add Citadel's 228 radio properties to its 336 stations. Dealmakers say the companies could be combined with the required spin-off of just two FMs. But if you're thinking this is a friendly merger, it's anything but. The Citadel board "Carefully considered the revised Cumulus proposal" made on November 29 and determined the revised proposal was not in the best interest of shareholders for "many reasons." "The proposal was neither credible nor at an appropriate valuation," and that Cumulus provided no equity or debt financing commitment or terms, and pointing to Cumulus' "highly leveraged balance sheet" and the fact that some of their debt covenants have been suspended through the end of the year, according to Radio Ink...This proposed merger needs lots of altering if it's to happen. Cumulus is considering an even more attractive offer to Citadel shareholders. Cumulus's financial advisers are available to discuss the merits of the transaction, and to address questions and be available to engage with Citadels' financial advisors at their shareholders earliest convenience. Cumulus Chairman/CEO Lew Dickey says "neither side would be obligated by beginning the process and concludes, "We look forward to hearing from you soon and to working together to deliver liquidity and value for all Citadel shareholders." ...Citadel stands to gain from a Cumulus takeover after emerging from bankruptcy in June. In November Lew Dickey asked Citadel not to complete a a refinancing that requires a $31 million make-whole payment in the event of a change of control. Citadel didn't listen to Dickey, going ahead with their plans to refinance. Citadel is having a hard time letting go but might be wise to take the Cumulus offer... 10 Timeline Memories:1.1879] Blinded by the light: Thomas A. Edison privately demonstrates his incandescent light at Menlo Park (NJ)...2.1946] Premiered on this date: Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring James Stewart and Donna Reed is previewed for charity at the Globe Theatre in Times Square. The next day is the official world premiere. The movie won’t become a hit until it reaches TV…3.1957] Merry Christmas Elvis: Elvis Presley gets an early Christmas present - a draft notice from the U.S. Army. 'The King' reports to the Memphis draft board for a physical...4.1963] A crack in the wall: The Berlin Wall opens for the first time, allowing West Berliners to visit relatives on the east side for the holidays. It re-closes January 6th...5.1973] ‘Happy Trails’: Bobby Darinpasses away following surgery to repair a faulty heart valve. Darin was just 37…6.1980] Silent Night: No announcers are allowed in a Don Ohlmeyer experiment during the Jets-Dolphins game on NBC-TV, won by the Jets 24-17. I remember how refreshing it was and they kept the parabolic crowd mics open so you felt like you were at the game. It’s time for this experiment to return…7.1989] Sending in the Marines: The U.S. sends troops into Panama to topple the government of Manuel Noriega...8.1993] Wedding Bells: Donald Trump makes Marla Mapleshis apprentice for 6 years before the marriage ends in divorce...9.2002] Lott trots: Trent Lott resigns as Senate Republican leader two weeks after making racially charged remarks...10.2005] Walking the walk: New York City transit workers walk out on strike, shutting down subways and buses for 3 days. And it was freezing then too...Music Memories:

Sorry to hear about Clay Cole'ssudden passing over the weekend at the age of 72. Clay hosted "The Clay Cole Show", a TV dance show, from 1959 to 1968 on WNTA and WPIX-TV in New York City. Not too long ago, Clay and I reconnected by email. I met Clay when he was co-hosting AM New York with Janet Langhart several years ago. I brought Julio Iglesias to the show for an appearance at that time. No one was hotter on TV in New York in the 60s than Clay Cole. R.I.P. Clay...

Friday, December 17, 2010

Greg Walden fans are coming out of the woodwork. Who is Greg Walden and why is he being praised? Walden is a former broadcaster who has often spoken up for broadcaster issues in House hearings. He's also the newly named chair of the House Communications Subcommittee. Just about every form of media ever heard of, is now Walden's best friend. "NAB congratulates Rep. Walden on being picked to serve as chair of the House Communications Subcommittee. Greg Walden is a remarkably gifted public servant steeped in the nuances of communications policy and broadcast-related issues." That was the National Association of Broadcasters greeting from president Gordon Smith. And there were more such greetings...

The American Cable Association and phone companies also kissed Walden's ring but I won't bore you with those quotes. The hope is that Walden's background and experience will influence Congress to promote media interests and "the interests of consumers" without imposing new regulatory measures. Whether the hope turns to reality should be answered as soon as the new session of Congress opens in January...

Walden's appointment comes at a time when lawmakers on Capitol Hill have had it with NAB lobbying efforts. Politico reports that "Tensions are already flaring with the end of the current session fast approaching. Some Democratic and GOP staffers say their bosses are tired of negotiating with the NAB on lingering policy issues because the trade association seems unwilling to hammer out a compromise" (on low power FM stations, the so-called LPFMs and performance royalties). It's good to have a friend on Capitol Hill but how good a friend will Walden be???

10 Timeline Memories:1.1956] Debuted on this date: “To Tell The Truth” on CBS-TV (12/18). The first edition of the classic game show runs until 1968 when it goes into syndication from ‘69 to ‘78 and then off and on through 2002 (12/18)...2.1959] Blasted beach: “On The Beach” which shows life after a nuclear holocaust, premieres in New York City and becomes the first movie to debut simultaneously in major cities worldwide, 18 cities in all, including Moscow (12/17)…3.1966] Christmas debut on this date: Dr. Seuss’ “How The Grinch Stole Christmas“, a special on CBS-TV (12/18)…4.1969] UF what?: The U.S. Air Force closes its ‘Project: Blue Book’ by concluding there’s no evidence of UFOs, as a mysterious flying disc hovers overhead (12/17)...5.1969] TV History: Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki (Budinger) are married on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”. An estimated 50 million viewers see the couple tip toe through the tulips (12/17)...6.1976] Super!: WTCG-TV in Atlanta becomes WTBS, uplinking with a satellite to become the first TV Super Station, blanketing the United States (12/17)…7.1987] All Paul Simon all the time: Presidential candidate Paul Simon introduces singer Paul Simon on ‘Saturday Night Live’ (12/19). Will the real Paul Simon please stand up (12/19)…8.1989] “D’oh!” Debut: “The Simpsons” debuts in its own time slot on Sunday nights (Fox) (12/17). The animated classic was first introduced on “The Tracey Ullman Show” on April 19, 1987…9.1997] ‘Happy Trails’: SNL comedian Chris Farleybecomes the shows’ latest tragedy when he overdoses on morphine and cocaine in Chicago at 33. One of Farley’s best characters was Matt Foley, the inspirational speaker (12/18)…10.2002] This is justice?: Citing new DNA evidence, a judge throws out the convictions of 5 young men for the 1989 attack on the ‘Central Park Jogger’ who was raped and left for dead (12/19). Miraculously she survives…

Music Memories:

1955] Written on this date: Carl Perkins wakes up in the middle of the night, writes the lyrics to a song on a brown paper "tow sack" and less than 48 hours later, out comes "Blue Suede Shoes"(12/17)...

1958] Number One on this date: "The Chipmunk Song" - David Seville aka Ross Bagdasarian, one of the first records I played (along with "Tom Dooley" in Radio)(12/19)...1979] "Escape (Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes (12/19)(the last #1 hit of the 70s)...1984] "Like a Virgin" - Madonna (12/18)...

1960] Released on this date: "Calendar Girl" - Neil Sedaka. Great timing on the release. It was played for months (12/19)...

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The lame-duck Congress wouldn't pull a fast one on radio would they? The NAB is not so sure. National Association of Broadcasters EVP Dennis Wharton says "NAB is watching the waning days of the lame-duck very closely to guard against a dark-of-night attempt to pass the bill." "The bill" is HR 848, the Performance Rights Act. PRA was first brought up in the House when this Congress met in February 2009. There now appears to be movement and new sponsors signing on. The bill would "establish equitable treatment for terrestrial, cable, satellite and internet services" related to a performer's royalty, something terrestrial radio has been exempt from. What's being fought is Congress legislating such a bill and allowing the Copyright Royalty Board to set the rates, something the CRB has already set for websites, covering 2011 - 2015...

The new CRB rates cover streamers that weren't covered under one of the various agreements negotiated last year. Deals were reached last year between SoundExchange and the NAB, small webcasters (based on revenue), NPR (via The Corporation for Public Broadcasting) and a group of pureplay streamers that include Pandora. Each performance (one song streamed to one listener) will pay $.0019 per-performance in 2011, graduating to $.0023 in 2015. Non-commercial streamers get a $500 minimum per channel, plus performance rates that begin after 159,140 aggregate tuning hours in a given month. The rates will range from $.0017 per-performance in 2011 to $.0025 in 2015...

I'm not a big fan of royalties to begin with, but there is one benefit from all of this nonsense. There will be lots of jobs available for accountants who consult their local radio station...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1773] Tea it up: The Boston Tea Party takes place as American colonists board a British ship and dump more than 300 chests of tea in Boston Harbor to protest tea taxes. This might explain why the water in Boston Harbor is described as “orange pekoe with specks of green tea and chamomile” in color…2.1905] Published on this date: Variety Magazine hits the newsstands to ‘Boffo’! reviews. Not so 'Boffo' now, Variety has new ownership...3.1960] Staten Island Supercrash: A United Air Lines DC-8 and a TWA Super Constellation collide over Staten Island, killing 134…4.1972] Unbeaten and Untied: The Miami Dolphins become the 1st NFL team to go unbeaten and untied in a 14-game regular season. The 2007 Patriots beat that record, going 18-0. Miami’s season streak reaches 17 after they win the Super Bowl…5.1973] Slice and dice: Buffalo’s O.J. Simpsonknifes his way through the NFL to become the 1st runner in history to gain over 2,000 yards in a season when he runs for 200 yards against the Jets. Jet coach Weeb Ewbank loses his lunch and then announces his retirement…6.1982] Reborn: Tom Seaver becomes a Met again after a trade with Cincinnati. The ‘Franchise’ throws the last pitch at Shea Stadium to Mike Piazza…1983] Yogi Berra is named Yankee manager for the second time...7.1985] The steak was cold, too: Organized crime chief Paul Castellanois gunned down outside Sparks Steakhouse on 2nd Avenue in Manhattan as he’s set up by the mob…8.1997] “Happy Trails“: SingerNicolette Larsondies from brain swelling at 45…2007] Singer Dan Fogelbergpasses away at 56 from complications caused by prostate cancer…9.1998] Desert Fox: The U.S. and Britain begin a major four-day bombing campaign on Iraqi targets, in response to Iraq’s continued failure to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions as well as their interference with U.N. Special Commission inspectors…10.2000] Breaking the color barrier: President-elect George W. Bush selects Colin Powellto be the 1st African-American secretary of state…

Legendary Hall of Fame Pitcher, Bob Fellerpassed away last night from acute leukemia at the age of 92. Feller's career began with the Cleveland Indians at the age of 17. He would spend 18 seasons with Cleveland, the only team he ever played for. This video contains highlights of his great career...

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Music radio stations are not in business to sell music. Like all formats of radio, music radio stations are in business to get good ratings, which in turn will produce positive revenue streams. That's the business side of radio. Everything else, including music sales, are a by-product. While an argument can be made that music radio doesn't play enough new product to affect sales, how do you explain a paltry gain of 5% in digital downloads (tracks and albums) and 47 million fewer CDs sold in 2010 despite massive airplay of new music online? Billboard Magazine reports that in 2010, the growth in sales of digital downloads, which only last year had been marked and promising, "slowed to a trickle, as more consumers plugged into internet radio and video streaming sites." ...The only recent sales spikes seen during the fourth quarter were fueled by the inclusion of the Beatles' catalog at iTunes and Taylor Swift's new "Speak Now" LP. Streaming sites are struggling to move digital downloads too. "Buy" links at such music services as Pandora and YouTube give millions of users the ability to make an impulse purchase. Pandora has more than 65 million registered users and YouTube streams more than 1 billion music videos from just the top 5 music labels, according to TubeMogul. Between the two, consumers streamed billions more songs in 2010 than they did in 2009. According to Billboard, the digital album is showing signs of age. Could that be a factor???For the first time, digital albums sales declined for three consecutive quarters - from Q1 through Q4. If downloads are like any other consumer product, the current slowdown will be followed by an "irreversible slide in sales and revenue." Streaming alternatives that will accompany the download fall are already on the market. More are certain to follow in 2011. Whether they can replace the lost download revenue is another question...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1791] Right on: The Bill of Rights, the 1st 10 amendments to the U.S. constitution, takes effect following ratification by Virginia (the state)…2.1890] “Happy Trails“: Sioux Indian Chief Sitting Bull and 11 other tribe members are killed by the Native American police in Grand River (SD). Sitting Bull was 59…1966] Walt Disneydies from cardiac arrest at 65. Contrary to popular belief, Disney’s body was not frozen…3.1939] Premiered on this date: “Gone With The Wind“, starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh has its world premiere at Loew’s Grand Theater in Atlanta…4.1961] Guilty as charged: Former Nazi official Adolf Eichmannis sentenced to death by an Israeli court. Eichmann is hanged in 1962…5.1982] Curtains: Paul “Bear” Bryantannounces his retirement as coach of the University of Alabama football team. Bryant was the winningest college football coach in history at the time. The Bear will suffer a fatal heart attack at 69, one month later…6.1982] Signed, sealed, delivered: Bill Parcellsbecomes the Giants 12th head coach and press conferences will never be the same…7.1985] Wedding Bells: Sylvester Stalloneand Brigitte Nielsonshadow box down the aisle. This marriage ends in a KO in the 18th month…1990] Rod Stewart asks Rachel Hunter, do ya think I’m sexy? Apparently she does. She marries him. Not believing in quickie divorces, the couple’s divorce becomes official in November of 2006…8.2003] Proof is in the DNA pudding: The late Senator Strom Thurmond’sfamily acknowledges Essie Mae Washington-Williams’ claim that she was Thurmond’s illegitimate mixed-race daughter…9.2005] Election Day: Millions of Iraqis turn out to choose a parliament in a mostly peaceful election…10.2007] HGH to the rescue: Yankee pitcher Andy Pettitteadmits using human growth hormone to recover from an elbow injury, two days after the release of the Mitchell Report. People become suspicious when they see Pettitte with two left elbows…Music Memories:

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

A new Forrester Research Report shows that radio listening over the last 5 years has dropped 15% due to web growth of 121%, according to the L.A. Times. Not only that but for the first time ever, the average American spends as much time online as watching TV offline - about 13 hours a week. The phenomenal growth in web consumption is due to a number of factors, including the most popular being email. About 92% of people use email and about 60% shop online. The online shopping percentage compares with about a third of people just 3 years ago. Almost half of all Americans use the web to share photos with friends and family. And social networking is catching up. About 35% use social networking websites, up from 17% three years ago. Doing more online means less time offline and most media forms have been affected with the exception of TV which grew 5%. Go figure...

In addition to the 15% loss of radio listeners, print newspaper reading has dropped 26% and reading printed-on-paper magazines has fallen 18%. While people 30 and under have spent more time on the internet (12 hours) than other media forms for several years, Forrester's survey shows that this is the first year that people in older age groups are also doing so. The amount of time spent on the internet for personal uses doesn't tail off among older groups until the age of 66...

The survey questioned about 30,000 but did not address internet radio or satellite listening and did not address directly whether people who are watching video on their televisions consider themselves to be watching TV or using the internet. It's still a warning for all other media forms to beware of the growing giant among us...

10 Timeline Memories:1,1799] “Happy Trails“: George Washingtondies from a throat infection at his home in Mount Vernon (VA) at 67…2.1911] Polarized: Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsenbecome the first man to reach the South Pole…3.1946] Welcome, now move: The United Nations General Assembly votes to establish the U.N. headquarters in Manhattan. In celebration of this day, can we now get them to move???4.1947] Y’all start your engines: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is founded in Daytona Beach…5.1955] Debuted on this date: The Tappan Zee Bridge opens to traffic…1977] “Saturday Night Fever” starring John Travolta has its world premiere…6.1972] Mooned: Eugene Cernan is the last person to walk on the moon, after he and Harrison Schmitt complete the third and final extra-vehicular activity (EVA) of Apollo 17…7.1981] Grabbing the Golan: Israel annexes the Golan Heights, seized from Syria in 1967…8.1999] Peanuts stripped: Charles M. Schulzannounces he is retiring the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip…9.2000] Wedding Bells: The FTC unanimously approves the $111 billion merger of America Online and Time Warner, the latter’s worst decision…10.2008] Shoe business: President George W. Bush dodges shoes thrown at him by an Iraqi journalist who apparently didn’t want the U.S. in his country…

1999] Number One this century: "You've Lost This Lovin' Feeling" -Righteous Brothers. BMI announces in 1999 that the song is the number one composition on the performing rights group's list of "Top 100 Songs of The Century"...

Monday, December 13, 2010

Not only does CEA President/CEO Gary Shapirofeel that the movement to mandate Congess to include FM chips in cell phones is misguided, he also doesn't believe it will succeed. Given that the electronics industry is opposed to FM chips in smartphones, Shapiro's views aren't surprising. The president/CEO of the Consumer Electronics Assocation did raise some valid points, when he recently appeared at the Jacobs Media Summit. Shapiro says the mandate request makes the (radio) industry look old, weak and ineffective. Shapiro considers radio a "buggy whip industry." He used that term in a recent Radio World commentary, according to Leslie Stimson of RW...Shapiro believes that Congress is not interested in voting for a mandate. He says that "It's not going to happen." He praised NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith as a "savvy senator" who brought up the FM chip card to get the performance rights issue killed in Congress. But, Shapiro continued, "It makes radio look like it needs a government handout." NAB executive VP Dennis Wharton said, "In the spirit of the holiday season, NAB declines to comment." ...In light of the availability in most smartphones of a radio app and evidence showing that smartphone consumers can live without a radio in their mobile devices, Shapiro's comments add a punctuation mark against the FM chip mandate movement... 10 Timeline Memories:1.1956] The shameless trade: The Brooklyn Dodgers do the unthinkable, they trade Jackie Robinsonto the cross-town rival Giants for journeyman Dick Littlefield, $30,000 and a bag of scuffed up baseballs. Number 42 retires rather than play for the hated Giants...2.1975] Hit the delay button: Saturday Night Live uses a time delay for the first time for host Richard Pryor...3.1996] The coming and going of Kofi: Ghana's Kofi Annanbecomes the 7th secretary-general of the U.N. Ten years later, almost to the day, Annan resigns in 2006 after questionable practices are disclosed...4.1998] Record boot: The Vikings Gary Andersonkicks 6 field goals against Baltimore and sets an NFL record for 34 straight field goals...5.2000] Dubya: George W. Bushclaims the presidency 36 days after Election Day as Al Gore concedes defeat. Al, look at it this way, had you won the presidency you wouldn't have become the global warming guru and no one would've liked you...6.2001] Bin Laden sighting: In a captured videotape of Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader says the deaths and destruction achieved by the September 11 attacks exceeded his "most optimistic" expectations...7.2002] Gotcha: Cardinal Bernard Lawresigns as Boston archbishop because of the priest sex abuse scandal...8.2003] Gotcha too: Saddam Husseinis found hiding in a hole...9.2004] Guilty as charged: A jury in Redwood (CA) recommends the death penalty for Scott Petersonfor the murders of his wife and unborn child. Peterson remains on death row at San Quentin...10.2007] Media takeover: Shareholders of Dow Jones & Company, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, approve a takeover by Rupert Murdoch'sNews Corporation...Music Memories:

About Me

Mel Phillips Now & Then is more Now. The Then always follows the Now. Prior to starting 'Remembers' in 2005 and 'Now & Then' on April 7, 2008 I enjoyed a multi-media career which included being one of the Bill Drake program directors. I was involved in the programming of such legendary stations as WOR-FM, WXLO-FM, WNBC, WRKO AM & FM and KQV. I was also General Manager of Hooper Radio, played disc jockey in markets such as Tampa, Nashville, Norfolk and Atlantic City and enjoyed marketing success in syndicated radio for several companies including ABC, MJI and United Stations. My background also includes the music business where I promoted such diverse CBS acts as The Clash, Gloria Estefan, Loverboy, Judas Priest, George Michael & Julio Iglesias. In Special Programming at WCBS-FM I wrote and produced numerous specials and interviewed some of the biggest recording stars. In addition to this post I'm a regular contributor to Radio Daily News. My wife Diane and I reside on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and I'm very proud of my children, Robert Phillips, Lynn Phillips Brough and granddaughters Allyson and Amy...